I Sleep Late Poem by r james sterzinger

On Mondays
I sleep late
always... well, not always
not today, not this one

Today, I have to go
to the dentist
two broken teeth

five centuries later
I know why the Mona Lisa
doesn't smile
you get old
it all starts to go
mind memory
knees teeth

mouth numb
mind numb
I sit in the chair
waiting for the Novocain
to take full effect

the dental assistant gal
knows my wife
I am not sure what she knows about me
I am suspicious though

as she and the dentist
and I wait
she talks about
her weekend

her daughter is running
for Miss. Something or other
I hear about judges... floats
girls... awards... ribbons
more floats.... parades,
scholarships
on and on.

when you get old
things fall apart
patience wanes
and the things
that sedate you
make your life more bearable
like booze, like Novocain

like inane conversations
that you have to listen to
just so you can have a smile
that holds up
when the clouds come in
and darken the day
when you really wanted sunshine